Issued by Gov.uk

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone has been declared across England, Scotland and Wales.

Following a number of confirmed cases of avian influenza in the UK in recent weeks, on Monday 11 November an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) was declared across England, Scotland and Wales to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading.

This means it is now a legal requirement for all bird keepers to follow strict biosecurity measures. Keepers with more than 500 birds now need to restrict access for non-essential people on their sites, workers must change clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures and site vehicles need to be cleaned and disinfected regularly.

Backyard owners with smaller numbers of poultry including chickens, ducks and geese are also urged to strengthen their biosecurity measures in order to prevent further outbreaks of avian influenza in the UK.

Public Health England (PHE) advises that the risk to public health from the virus is very low and the Food Standards Agency advises that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.

The introduction of the AIPZ follows a number of confirmed cases of avian influenza in the UK.

This includes:

• H5N2 (low pathogenic) avian influenza confirmed at a site in Kent on 2 November.
• H5N8 (highly pathogenic) avian influenza confirmed at a site in Cheshire on 2 November
• H5N8 (highly pathogenic) avian influenza confirmed at a broiler breeder farm in Herefordshire on 10 November .
• H5N8 (highly pathogenic) confirmed at a premises in Leicestershire on 21 November.
• H5N8 (highly pathogenic) influenza confirmed at a premises in North Yorkshire on 29 November.
• H5N8 suspected at a second premises in North Yorkshire (tests ongoing).

In each case Defra has acted quickly to cull affected birds and to introduce movement restrictions to limit the risk of the disease spreading.

A very small number of wild birds in England have also been found to have had the disease. On 21 November, a case was confirmed at a premises in Leicestershire.

You can read the latest updates on avian influenza outbreaks in England here.

The introduction of a prevention zone follows a decision to raise the risk level for avian influenza incursion in wild Birds in Great Britain from ‘medium’ to ‘high’ on 6 November.

The UK Government has worked closely with Scottish and Welsh Governments to introduce national prevention zones at the same time, meaning that the restrictions will be applied across the whole of Great Britain.

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said:

I have declared a national Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) legislating for actions all bird keepers must take to help prevent the disease spreading to more poultry and other domestic birds.

Public Health England has confirmed that the risk to public health is very low and the Food Standards Agency advises that bird flu poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers.

Whether you keep just a few birds or thousands, you are now legally required to meet enhanced biosecurity requirements and this is in your interests to do, to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease.

The prevention zone means bird keepers across the country must:

• Ensure the areas where birds are kept are unattractive to wild birds, for example by netting ponds, and by removing wild bird food sources;
• Feed and water your birds in enclosed areas to discourage wild birds;
• Minimise movement in and out of bird enclosures;
• Clean and disinfect footwear and keep areas where birds live clean and tidy;
• Reduce any existing contamination by cleansing and disinfecting concrete areas, and fencing off wet or boggy areas.

The prevention zone will remain in place until further notice and will be kept under regular review as part of our work to monitor the threat of bird flu.

Poultry keepers and members of the public should report dead wild birds to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77 and keepers should report suspicion of disease to APHA on 03000 200 301. Keepers should familiarise themselves with our avian flu advice.

Further information

• The government’s outbreak assessment following recent cases in England can be accessed here.
• For more advice and regular updates on the latest situation, visit Governments’ avian flu pages: in England, Scotland, Wales and NI.
• Avian Influenza is in no way connected to the COVID-19 pandemic which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus which is not carried in poultry.